Carbon-graphite component for an electrochemical cell and method for making the component

ABSTRACT

A method for making a carbon-graphite component suited for use in an electrochemical cell, said component having a desired controlled pore structure having a desired mean pore size within a predetermined pore size range and a maximum pore size.

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 751,713, filed July 2, 1985, now abandoned.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application relates to U.S. application Ser. No. 751,636, filed July 3, 1985 for CARBON-GRAPHITE COMPONENT FOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE COMPONENT by Robert C. Stewart, Jr.

DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to carbon-graphite components of the type which are used in electrochemical cells such as fuel cell powerplants. Although this invention was developed for use in the field of phosphoric acid fuel cell powerplants, the invention may have application to any field employing carbon-graphite components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fuel cell powerplants produce electric power by electrochemically consuming a fuel and an oxidant in one or more electrochemical cells. The oxidant may be pure oxygen or a mixture of gases containing oxygen, such as air. The fuel may be hydrogen.

Each fuel cell generally has electrodes for receiving the gases, such as an anode electrode for fuel and a cathode electrode for an oxidant. The cathode electrode is spaced from the anode electrode. A matrix saturated with electrolyte is disposed between the electrodes. Each electrode includes a substrate having a catalyst layer disposed on the side facing the electrolyte matrix. In some instances, an electrolyte reservoir plate is on the other side of the substrate and is capable of providing electrolyte through small pores to the substrate. These electrolyte reservoir plates may have channels or passageways behind the substrate for carrying a reactant gas, such as gaseous fuel to the anode or gaseous oxidant to the cathode. For example, these channels might extend between parallel ribs on the substrate side of the electrolyte reservoir plate. Another acceptable construction is to have the electrode substrate both as an electrolyte reservoir plate and as an electrode substrate with channels on the separator side of the plate. A separator plate on the other side of the electrolyte reservoir plate provides a barrier to the loss of electrolyte and prevents mixing of the fuel and oxidant gases in adjacent cells.

Generally, a stack of fuel cells and separator plates are used in performing the electrochemical reaction. As a result of the electrochemical reaction, the fuel cell stack produces electric power, a reactant product, and waste heat. A cooling system extends through the stack for removing the waste heat from the fuel cell stack. The cooling system has a coolant and conduits for the coolant which are disposed within the stack. Heat is transferred by cooler holders from the fuel cells to the conduits and from the conduits to the coolant.

The cooler holder must be electrically and thermally conductive and may be permeable to gas. An example of such a cooler holder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,009 issued to Guthrie entitled "Porous Coolant Tube Holder for Fuel Cell Stack". Alternatively, the cooler holder might be impermeable to gas. An example of such a cooler holder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,913 issued to Tuschner entitled "Phosphoric Acid Heat Transfer Material". In Tuschner, the cooler holder serves the double function of cooler holder and separator plate.

Separator plates prevent the mixing of the fuel gas, such as hydrogen, disposed on one side of the plate, with an oxidant, such as air, disposed on the other side of the plate. Separator plates are, therefore, highly impermeable to gases such as hydrogen and highly electrically conductive to pass the electrical current through the fuel cell stack. In addition, separator plates must also tolerate the highly corrosive atmosphere formed by the electrolyte used in the fuel cell. One example of such an electrolyte is hot, phosphoric acid. In addition, separator plates, like cooler holders, must be strong, particularly in terms of flexural strength, which is a measure of the ability of the separator plate to withstand high pressure loads, differential thermal expansion of mating components, and numerous thermal cycles without cracking or breaking.

An example of a method for making separator plates for electrochemical cells is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,485 issued to Emanuelson et al., the material in which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this method, the separator plate is formed by molding and then graphitizing a mixture of preferably 50 percent high purity graphite powder and 50 percent carbonizable thermosetting phenolic resin. In particular, Emanuelson discusses forming a well blended mixture of the appropriate resin and graphite powder. The mixture is then distributed in a mold. The mold is compacted under pressure and temperature to melt and partially cure the resin and to form the plate.

An electrolyte reservoir layer, such as is commonly found in an electrolyte reservoir plate and as an electrode substrate, have requirements that differ from those for a separator plate. These layers or plates accommodate volume changes in the electrolyte during fuel cell operation. Examples of such electrolyte reservoir layers are shown in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,779,811; 3,905,832; 4,035,551; 4,038,463; 4,064,207; 4,080,413; 4,064,322; 4,185,145; and 4,374,906. Several of these patents show the electrolyte reservoir layer as a substrate. These substrates satisfy several functional requirements. For example, the substrate provides support to the catalyst layer and provides a means for the gaseous reactants to pass through the catalyst layer. The substrate may also provide, alone or in combination with an electrolyte reservoir plate, an electroltye storage reservoir to accommodate changes in acid volume due to changes in operating conditions of the cell and due to electrolyte evaporation. The edges of the substrate are often required to function as a wet seal to prevent the escape of reactant gases and electrolyte from the cell. In addition to the foregoing requirements, the substrate must also be a good electrical conductor and a good thermal conductor and have adequate structural strength and long life.

One material commonly used as a reservoir layer in phosphoric acid electrolyte fuel cells is formed of carbon fibers bonded together with a resin such as a phenolic resin and heated to convert the resin and carbon fibers to graphite. Alternatively, carbon or graphite fibers may be bonded together with pyrolitic graphite by placing an amount of fibers in a decomposable hydrocarbon atmosphere (e.g., methane) under conditions which cause the hydrocarbon to break down into carbon and hydrogen. The carbon (now pyrolitic graphite) deposits on the fibers. These two materials are available commerically and are commonly referred to as carbon papers.

Another material suggested for use in fuel cells, such as potassium hydroxide fuel cells, is discussed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,207 issued to DeCrescente et al. entitled "Porous Carbon Fuel Cell Electrode Substrates and Method of Manufacture". DeCrescente suggests making the substrate from any inexpensive material available in filament form which can be pyrolized to form a carbon fiber. Examples of such filaments are filaments comprised of acrylonitrile polymers and filaments comprised of naturally occurring cellulosic fiber such as rayon. The carbonizable filaments are uniformly distributed on a planar support to felt the fibers. A resin binder is thereafter applied typically by spraying. Thereafter, the felt is subjected to pyrolysis by heating.

Despite the existence of many methods for forming components, such as impermeable plates and reservoir layers in electrodes and electrolyte reservoir plates, scientists and engineers are seeking to develop materials and methods of making the material for these components which lend themselves to high speed, mass production fabrication.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a carbon-graphite component having a controlled pore structure and adapted for use in electrochemical cells is formed from a mixture of cellulose fibers and a carbonizable resin.

This invention is predicated in part on the recognition that the advantageous properties of cellulose fibers that enable modern, high speed, paper making are particularly advantageous in the manufacture of carbon-graphite components for electrochemical cells.

As used herein, cellulose fibers means cellulose fibers of the type suited for paper making and are generally unmodified cellulose fibers as obtained from pulping and bleaching operations that are refined by mechanically processing the fibers in beaters or refiners. Mechanically refining the cellulose fibers includes separating, crushing, fraying, fibrillating and cutting cellulose pulp fibers as set forth in the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (5th Ed. 1982), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As a result of mechanical refining, the fibers imbibe water and swell, becoming more flexible and more pliable. Their capacity to bond with one another on drying is greatly enhanced, partly through modification of the fiber surfaces and partly because of the creation of new surface area. Such cellulose fibers do not include cellulosic fibers, such as rayon or acetate, which are unsuited for paper making.

In accordance with the present invention, the method for making a carbon-graphite component of the type adapted for use in an electrochemical cell includes the steps of: forming a sheet structure having a controlled pore structure which is composed of cellulose fibers and carbonizable thermosetting resin; heating the sheet structure to a first temperature range to carbonize the cellulose fibers and resin; and, heating the sheet structure to a second temperature range to graphitize the carbonized cellulose fibers and resin.

In one embodiment, the sheet structure includes a relatively pure carbon powder which is supported and positioned during formation of the sheet structure by the cellulose fibers.

A primary feature of the present invention is the cellulose fibers which are mixed with a carbonizable, thermosetting resin. Another feature is the structure of cellulose fibers which have fibrils extending like hooks from the main fiber. Another feature is the tendency of cellulose fibers to bond together when dried from an aqueous suspension. Another feature in one embodiment is the relatively pure carbon powder which is disposed in the mixture.

A principal advantage of the present invention is the ability to use modern paper forming techniques to make the sheet structure for an electrochemical cell which results from the ability of the cellulose fibers to bond to the other cellulose fibers and to support and position the carbon particles, if present. Still another advantage is the strength and uniformity of the finished structure which results in one embodiment from the resin in solution selectively migrating to the many points of contact formed by the fibrils and microfibrils and depositing at these locations. An advantage is the rigidity of the structure after carbonization which results from the carbonized resin bonding the carbonized cellulose fibers, if present, carbon particles together. An advantage is the reduction in warpage and shrinkage and the enhanced electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties which result from the presence of graphite.

The foregoing features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention and in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The sole FIGURE is a transverse sectional view showing an electrochemical cell which includes a reservoir layer and a separator plate adjacent to a cooler holder.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The sole FIGURE is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a fuel cell stack 6. The fuel cell stack includes one or more fuel cells as represented by the fuel cell 8 and cooler holders, as represented by the single cooler holder 10, which are spaced at intervals between sets of fuel cells. The coolant holders are adapted to receive conduits 11 for a coolant.

Each fuel cell includes an electrolyte retaining matrix 12, disposed between an anode electrode 14 and a cathode electrode 16. The particular cell shown uses phosphoric acid as the electrolyte. An electrolyte reservoir plate 18 is adjacent the anode and an electrolyte reservoir plate 20 is adjacent the cathode. In an alternate construction, the electrolyte reservoir plates might be replaced by gas separator plates.

The anode electrode 14 has a catalyst layer 22 and a porous reservoir layer 24. The catalyst layer is bonded to the reservoir layer and is formed of catalyst particles bonded together with a hydrophobic material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. One such catalyst is platinum supported on carbon particles. The reservoir layer in this embodiment is also an electrode substrate since it supports the catalyst layer.

The porous electrolyte reservoir plate 18 has ribs 26 and an edge portion 28. The ribs are spaced apart leaving passages 29 for fuel therebetween. A suitable fuel, such as hydrogen, is flowed through the passages 29 between the reservoir layer and the electrolyte reservoir plate and thence to the catalyst layer 22.

Electrolyte movement within the cell occurs as a result of the capillarity of porous structures which develop capillary forces. The smaller the pore, the larger the capillary force and the greater the liquid retention capability. Electrolyte transfer between the matrix 12 and both the electrolyte reservoir plate 18 and reservoir layer 24 occurs directly through the pores of the catalyst layer 22 which is partially hydrophilic. The catalyst layer may have holes to aid in this liquid transfer.

In this example of a fuel cell, the cathode electrode 16 also has a reservoir layer 30 and a catalyst layer 32. The catalyst layer is bonded to the reservoir layer. In many applications, a reservoir layer may be provided on only one side of the cell.

Like the electrolyte reservoir plate 18 adjacent the anode, the electrolyte reservoir plate 20 adjacent the cathode has a plurality of ribs, as represented by the single rib 34, which are spaced apart to define passages 38 for the oxidant. These passages generally extend perpendicular to the passages 29. An oxidant, such as the oxygen contained in air, is flowed through these passages between the reservoir layer and the electrolyte reservoir plate and thence through the reservoir layer to the catalyst layer.

Separator plate 39a having an edge portion 40a and separator plate 39b having an edge portion 40b are used to separate the adjacent fuel cells. The separator plates prevent the hydrogen, which is flowed along passages 29, from mixing with the oxygen in air flowed along passages 38. The separator plates are highly impermeable to a gas such as hydrogen and highly electrical conductive to enable electron flow along the stack. The separator plates also block the leakage of electrolyte from reservoir layers within the cell.

In this example, the reservoir layers each have a peripheral sealing portion. For example, the reservoir layer 24 has a peripheral sealing portion 41, the reservoir layer 30 has a peripheral sealing portion 42 and the edge regions 28 and 36 of the electrolyte reservoir plates are peripheral sealing portions. These sealing portions are impregnated, such as with material of which the matrix 12 is made, in order that the entire volume of these portions remain essentially completely filled with electrolyte as long as the matrix 12 is filled with electrolyte. Liquid seals are thereby formed by sandwiching the sealing portions between the edge portion 40a of the upper gas separator plate and the edge portion 40b of the lower gas separator plate. These liquid seals are formed at the surfaces 45, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54. This may be done in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,206 entitled "Wet Seal for Liquid Electrolyte Fuel Cells" issued to Trocciola et al. which is commonly owned with the present invention.

As shown, the components which form the electrochemical cell are plate-like structures which are molded or shaped to configurations which adapt them to their particular use.

Electrode substrates have been successfully manufactured using mass production techniques of the type used in the manufacture of paper. One approach is to form a mixture having a controlled pore structure formed of cellulose fibers and a carbonizable, water dispersable thermosetting resin, such as Bendix V1129 available from the Bendix Company, Troy, N.Y. Carbon powder, if added, will not cause a variation in the steps. Accordingly, the same steps are followed whether the carbon is present or not. The mixture may be formed mechanically or by forming a very dilute aqueous suspension consisting essentially of cellulose fibers, relatively pure carbon powder (if present) and phenolic resin in the form of a slurry. Certain wet strength binders, such as other carbonizable resins and pH buffers may be present in minor amounts do not change the baric properties of the mixture.

After the suspension is formed, the pH of the suspension is adjusted to uniformly precipitate the resin from the water onto the cellulose fibers and carbon particles. The structure of the cellulose fibers provides a particular advantage when used with the resin in suspension. The cellulose fibers have fine fibrils which are visible under an optical microscope. The electron microscope shows that the fibrils are composed of still finer microfibrils or micellar strings. The microfibrils are thought to consist of numerous nearly parallel cellulose fibers molecules which are so exactly ordered at places that they form crystalline regions called crystallites or micelles. In addition, less ordered cellulose fibers chains may even be tangled. The many points of contact of these fibrils and microfibrils with each other and the graphite particles selectively attract the suspended resin and cause the resin to selectively migrate to the many points of contact and to deposit at these locations. As a result, a uniform dispersion of the resin with the graphite particles and cellulose fibers results.

After forming the suspension of cellulose fibers, graphite particles and deposited resin, modern paper forming techniques may be used to form the sheet structure. These techniques are of the type described in Halpern, "Paper Manufacture" (Noyes Publishers 1975), and described in Loeber, "Supplement to E. J. Labarre's Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Paper and Papermaking" (Swets Publishing Service, distributed by Swets North America, Lewiston, N.Y. ISBN 90-265-10038-6), the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference. In such techniques, the slurry is typically deposited on a moving continuous wire belt or screen or alternatively on a series of rotary cylindrical filters. The cylinder or screen receives the slurry, separates the water from the slurry and forms a wet sheet. The wet sheet is continuously removed from the belt, screen or filter and transported by itself by a supporting woolen felt or other means to the next location. The wet sheet is carried through a series of rolls to remove the water. The water is pressed out mechanically to some extent and the remaining water is removed by evaporation as the sheet passes over a series of steam heated cylindrical dryers.

The carbon particles disposed in the sheet in the form of a carbon powder are relatively pure. Very high purity carbon of the type used in separator plates is not required for obtaining satisfactory components.

For separator plates, an impurity is any material, other than carbon, which melts, evaporates, decomposes or interacts with either the carbon, the resin as it decomposes, or with the carbonized resin, or which ignites during carbonizing or graphitizing of the plate. These types of impurities cause voids or pin holes through the finished plate.

Other impurities of concern to both separator plates and reservoir layers are those foreign materials remaining in the component which are not chemically or electrically compatible with the fuel cell environment, resulting in a higher corrosion rate or contamination of the electrolyte and ultimately the fuel cell catalyst. The most harmful impurities are lead, copper, bismuth, silver, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. The total amount of these impurities should not exceed about 100 ppm and is preferably less than 20 ppm. Other less harmful impurities include silicon, iron, sodium and potassium.

For separator plates, the total of all impurities in the graphite powder must not exceed 1,500 ppm and is preferably less than 900 ppm, since too high a total will result in a excessively porous plate due to the volatilization of these impurities during heat treatment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, impurities cannot be tolerated in any amount which comprise particles greater than about 10 mils, as these particles would cause large, unacceptable defects in the finished plates. These properties are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,485 issued to Emanuelson et al. entitled "Method for Making Improved Separator Plates for Electrochemical Cells", the material in which is incorporated herein by reference.

The use of carbon powder, including graphite powder, confers significant advantages on electrodes and other components made by this method. The presence of carbon powder reduces warping in firing and shrinkage. The warpage and shrinkage is, of course, less if graphite is used in comparison to more amorphous forms of carbon. In addition, scrap losses due to firing defects are less than scrap losses experienced with other formulations. Electrical and thermal properties are enhanced as compared with noncarbon containing cellulose fibers phenolic compositions.

During the use of the modern paper forming techniques for making the precursor sheet structure, the cellulose fibers perform the important function of supporting and positioning the thermosetting resin and, if present, the carbon powder. The cellulose fibers also tend to bind together which gives form and cohesion to the precursor sheet during operations prior to curing of the thermosetting resin. In some constructions, the resin might be added by spraying or dipping as the wet sheet is passed from the liquid removed sheets.

In making impermeable cooler holders or separator plates, the precursor sheet structure will include at least 20 percent to 80 percent by weight graphite powder with the remainder of the composition either cellulose fibers or approximately equal amounts of cellulose fibers and the carbonizable, thermosetting resin. Within this range, precursor sheet structures containing about 35 percent to 45 percent by weight graphite powder with the remainder approximately equal amounts by weight of cellulose fibers and organic resins have been tested and found entirely satisfactory. The amounts are considered approximately equal if the difference between amounts is less than ten percent by weight of the noncarbon remainder. A sample containing much less carbon powder was used to make a substrate for an electrode.

EXAMPLE

A sample material made to the assignee's specifications was produced for the assignee by the conventional paper forming techniques used in making filter paper during a production run by Filtration Sciences, Watertown, N.Y. About five percent by weight relatively pure carbon powder was added to the mixture of cellulose fibers and phenolic resin. The carbon need not be added, but if added, is in the range of about five percent to twenty percent by weight with a preferred range of five to ten percent. The carbon is added to increase the percentage carbon yield with the cellulose yielding approximately thirty percent carbon. The carbon powder was supplied by the Asbury Graphite Corporation, Asbury, N.J. Typically, one-hundred percent of the A-99 powder will pass through a 325 U.S. standard sieve and 70 percent will pass through a number 625 U.S. standard sieve. The particle size of the carbon powder ranges from 19 microns to 40 microns with trace amounts outside these limits and a mean particle size of 25 to 30 microns. A thermosetting, carbonizable phenolic resin was used as a binder. One resin thought satisfactory is Reichhold 24-655 phenolic resin available from Varcum Chemical, a Division of Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., Niagara Falls, N.Y. Chemically equivalent resins may also be used and the use of a particular resin may be dictated by considerations of the particular type of paper making machinery and the familiarity of the manufacturer with particular resins.

The precursor sheet structure containing the cellulose fibers, relatively pure carbon particles and the partially cured carbonizable thermosetting phenolic resin was cut to size. The sized precursor sheet was heated to carbonize the phenolic resin and cellulose fibers. A typical carbonization cycle for large volumes would be to gradually heat the sheet structure for 36 hours from ambient temperature to about 1,000° C. (1,850° F., and typically within a range of 1,500° F.-2,000° F.). The gradual heating is required to avoid severe thermal gradients in the furnance and to allow the gases generated during carbonization to escape because different volatiles come off at different temperatures. The material is held at this temperature usually for about six hours and allowed to cool gradually over a period of up to 72 hours to ambient temperature. The heating cures any uncured resin and causes carbonization of the cellulose fibers and the carbonizable resin transforming at least 30 percent by weight of the resin and the cellulose fibers into carbon. After the precursor sheet structure is carbonized, the carbonizable resin bonds the carbonized cellulose fibers and graphite particles together causing the sheet structure to maintain its structural integrity.

After carbonization, the sheet structure was heated to a second, higher temperature range to graphitize the carbon which is formed during the carbonization cycle. This may be done, for example, by heating the structure gradually for a period of 48 hours from ambient temperature to a temperature of about 4,700° F.-5,250° F. (about 2,600° C.-2,900° C.). After being held at this temperature for a short period (up to three hours) in an inert or reducing atmosphere. The sheet structure is cooled gradually to ambient temperature.

The resulting substrate had the following characteristics: crush strength 500 psi; flexural strength 1260 psi; thru-plane thermal conductivity 1.0 BTU/hour-foot-°Fahrenheit; a mean pore size of 22-25 microns and a corrosion potential that was greater than 1,150 mV. The substrate performed its intended function in its intended environment. Although the pore size was smaller than desired, it fell within the desired range of twenty to thirty microns. Table I shows that a fuel cell electrode formed using this substrate performed satisfactorily.

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Summary of Peak and End Performance-Lydall 81-148                                                           Internal                                          Hours of    Performance                                                                           O.sub.2 Gain                                                                        H.sub.2 Gain                                                                        Resistance (200 ASF)                              Performance (mv)   (mv) (mv) (ohm/cm.sup.2)                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Initial                                                                             ˜120 hrs.                                                                       635 mV 85   21   32                                                End   1100 hrs.                                                                            620 mV 99   22   32                                                Change             +14  +1                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

This particular fuel cell was formed from a two inch by two inch test cell employing a catalyst of platinum deposited on carbon. The test cell was run for about 1,100 hours. As shown in Table I, the output at termination of the endurance run was 620 mV. A comparison of diagnostics made at 120 hours performance and at termination showed that both performance losses were within normal limits. No substrate corrosion damage was detected after 1,100 hours of exposure to standard test conditions.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the claimed invention. 

We claim:
 1. A method for making a carbon-graphite component suited for use in an electrochemical cell, said component having a desired controlled pore structure having a desired mean pore size within a predetermined pore size range and a maximum pore size, comprising:forming a precursor sheet structure that is composed of a mixture consisting essentially of cellulose fibers, a carbonizable, thermosetting resin and five percent to twenty percent by weight purified carbon particles, the precursor sheet structure having an actual controlled pore structure having a mean pore size falling within a predetermined pore size range and a maximum pore size by employing paper forming techniques used to form filter paper which include fraying, fibrillating and cutting said cellulose pulp fibers to form said actual controlled pore structure; heating the controlled pore sheet structure to a first temperature range to carbonize the cellulose fibers and thermosetting resin wherein the carbonized resin bonds the carbonized cellulose fibers together; heating the controlled pore sheet structure to a second, higher temperature range to graphitize the purified carbon particles, the carbonized cellulose fibers and resin; wherein the cellulose fibers support and position the purified carbon particles during the step of forming the precursor sheet structure and wherein the steps of heating the precursor controlled pore sheet structure shrink the precursor sheet structure and produce a component having said desired controlled pore structure.
 2. The method of making a carbon-graphite component of claim 1 wherein the mixture consisting essentially of cellulose fibers, thermosetting resin and five percent to twenty percent by weight carbon particles includes approximately equal amounts of weight of said cellulose fibers and said resin.
 3. The method of making the carbon-graphite component of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the precursor sheet structure includes the step of forming a slurry of cellulose fibers and purified carbon particles, depositing the slurry on a continuously moving surface for removing the liquid from the slurry to form a wet sheet, and continuously removing the sheet from the surface.
 4. The method of making the carbon-graphite component of claim 1 wherein the sheet is wet when removed from the continuously moving surface, wherein the slurry is formed of a suspension of cellulose fibers and said resin and which further includes the step of depositing the resin on said cellulose fibers prior to depositing the cellulose fibers on said continuously moving surface.
 5. The method of making the carbon-graphite component of claim 4 wherein the step of forming the precursor sheet structure includes the step of uniformly depositing an additional amount of resin on said wet sheet.
 6. The method of making the carbon-graphite component of claim 5 wherein the step of depositing the additional amount of resin on said sheet includes the step of spraying the resin on said sheet.
 7. The method of making a carbon-graphite component of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a precursor sheet structure includes the step of heating the precursor sheet structure to cure said thermosetting resin.
 8. The method of making a carbon-graphite component of claim 7 wherein the step of forming a precursor sheet structure includes the step of applying pressure to the precursor sheet structure before the thermosetting resin is cured.
 9. The method of making a carbon-graphite component of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 wherein said resin is a phenolic resin.
 10. A method for making an electrode for a fuel cell, said electrode having a desired controlled pore structure having a desired mean pore size within a predetermined pore size range and a maximum pore size, comprising:forming a precursor sheet structure that is composed of a mixture consisting essentially of cellulose fibers, a carbonizable, thermosetting resin and five percent to twenty percent by weight purified carbon particles, the precursor sheet structure having an actual controlled pore structure having a mean pore size falling within a predetermined pore size range and a maximum pore size by employing paper forming techniques used to form filter paper which include fraying, fibrillating and cutting said cellulose pulp fibers to form said actual controlled pore structure; heating the controlled pore sheet structure to a first temperature range to carbonize the cellulose fibers and thermosetting resin wherein the carbonized resin bonds the carbonized cellulose fibers together; heating the controlled pore sheet structure to a second, higher temperature range to graphitize the purified carbon particles the carbonized cellulose fibers and resin; wherein the cellulose fibers support and position the purified carbon particles during the step of forming the precursor sheet structure and wherein the steps of heating the precursor controlled pore sheet structure shrinks the precursor sheet structure and produces a component having said desired controlled pore structure; bonding a catalyst layer to the resulting controlled pore sheet structure.
 11. The method of making the electrode of claim 10 wherein the mixture consisting essentially of cellulose fibers, thermosetting resin and five percent to twenty percent by weight carbon particles includes approximately equal amounts by weight of said cellulose fibers and said resin. 